New AT&T Launches; Offering Customers a New Leader in Communications and Entertainment, Leading Industry Transformation to Integ
November 18 2005 - 1:51PM
Business Wire
Today marks the birth of AT&T Inc. and of a new standard-bearer
in communications, entertainment and service for the 21st century.
SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE:SBC) closed its acquisition of
AT&T Corp. today as California regulators approved the
transaction -- the final approval needed for the merger of the
companies' highly complementary networks, product portfolios,
capabilities and shared heritage. The combined enterprise will
immediately begin a well-planned integration process, allowing the
new AT&T family of companies to quickly deliver benefits for
both customers and stockholders. Through its subsidiaries and
affiliates, AT&T Inc. is the largest telecommunications company
in the United States and one of the largest in the world. The
combined company is the largest U.S. provider of high-speed DSL
Internet services and local and long-distance voice services and
the No. 1 provider of data services to the Fortune 1000. The new
AT&T owns 60 percent of Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1
U.S. wireless services provider. The combined company is now poised
to lead the industry in one of the most significant shifts in
communications technology since the invention of the telephone more
than 120 years earlier -- the deployment of integrated services
based on Internet Protocol, giving customers access to virtually
any services, anytime, anywhere. "We are ready to meet the needs of
a new generation of customers in a new era of communications and
entertainment," said Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman and CEO of
AT&T Inc. "The combination of SBC and AT&T companies gives
us the local, global, and wireless network resources and the
expertise to set the standard for delivering meaningful innovations
and making the promise of integrated communications and
entertainment a reality for consumers and businesses," Whitacre
said. "This combination is more powerful because of our shared
heritage of innovation, service quality, reliability and
integrity." Ticker Symbol Announced, New Mark to be Unveiled Nov.
21 On Oct. 27, SBC announced that it would adopt the AT&T Inc.
name following merger close. Today, the company announced that it
will begin trading under the "T" symbol on the New York Stock
Exchange on Dec. 1. In the interim, it will trade under the
existing "SBC" symbol. A revitalized corporate logo will be
unveiled on Monday, Nov. 21, the company's first full day of
operation as the new AT&T. Immediate Benefits for Businesses,
Consumers Global, national and regional businesses, as well as
federal government agencies, now will be able to make a single call
for local network access and global backbone connectivity, as well
as wireless services, backed by industry-leading customer care and
security features. The AT&T IP backbone network, with its
industry-leading software infrastructure, gives these customers the
control and flexibility to manage their own networks and deliver a
wide range of applications in a secure, reliable way. Residential
and small-business customers will realize the benefits of new IP
communications innovations more quickly and effectively as well,
because the new AT&T companies will take solutions created for
large businesses and adapt them for smaller businesses and
consumers. The new AT&T companies will deliver fiber-powered
broadband connections to millions of homes and small businesses,
enabling customers to take advantage of IP video and other emerging
applications with content delivered over the new AT&T IP
backbone network. Additionally, the new AT&T companies will
make cost-competitive, convenient communications service bundles
available to millions of new U.S. customers; details about those
bundles will be available in the coming weeks. The New AT&T
Focused on Seamless Integration The new AT&T management team
will immediately launch a thoroughly planned integration of the two
companies' networks, product portfolios, customer care teams and
overall operations to ensure a smooth, efficient transition.
Through legally permissible ways, a team of managers began
integration planning soon after the original announcement to help
jump-start the transition after merger close. The team's top
priority is to ensure the highest levels of reliability and service
for customers during the transition. "We are hitting the ground
running on Day One so that our customers and owners quickly realize
the substantial benefits and synergies of this merger," said
Whitacre. "The integration teams have been working for months to
plan, solicit customer input and develop road maps for a successful
transition. Now that the merger is closed, the teams are ready to
execute and maximize the potential of this combined company."
Customers -- residential, business and wholesale -- will not be
required to take any immediate action unless they want to make
product or other changes. They will continue to order services, pay
bills and request customer service from their current provider as
they always have. Details on new offers available for customers who
purchase services from both companies will be available in the
coming weeks. The New AT&T Leads Industry, Has Unmatched IP
Assets, Commits to Continued Giving The new AT&T is uniquely
positioned to lead the industry with unsurpassed IP-enabled network
assets and solutions. These assets provide an unsurpassed platform
for delivery of additional IP-based services as they are developed.
The new AT&T will build on the strong records of community
involvement and investment by both the former AT&T and SBC
companies. The new AT&T expects to maintain more than $60
million annually in charitable contributions and funding of
community activities, placing it among the top-five largest
corporate foundations in the country. The New AT&T Focused on
Achieving Value for Owners The former SBC has a strong,
well-established track record of delivering solid value from merger
integration efforts. The creation of the new AT&T will be no
exception. The transaction is expected to yield a net present value
of more than $15 billion in synergies, net of the cost to achieve
them. The new AT&T will provide details on operational plans
along with an updated financial outlook for the combined company,
including expected synergies, at an investor conference in New York
City on Jan. 31, 2006. Stockholders of the former AT&T received
0.77942 shares of SBC common stock for each common share of
AT&T. As part of the merger closing, the former AT&T paid
its stockholders a special dividend of $1.30 per share. As part of
the merger close, three new members from the former AT&T board
of directors were added to the new AT&T board, bringing the
total to 18. New members are: David W. Dorman, William F. Aldinger,
and Jon C. Madonna; they will be appointed to existing committees.
The completion of the merger is the culmination of an extensive
10-month review process, which included review by or filings with
36 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of
Justice and Federal Communications Commission, as well as 14
countries. Merger news is available at www.sbc.com/att. About the
New AT&T AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest
telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the
United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand,
AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide
providers of IP-based communications services to business and as
leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and
long-distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising
services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in
Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services
provider with more than 52 million wireless customers. Additional
information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services
is available at www.TheNewATT.com. (C) 2005 SBC Knowledge Ventures,
L.P. All Rights reserved. SBC is a trademark of SBC Knowledge
Ventures, L.P. and/or its affiliates.
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